The Nigerian Air Force has commence the deployment of war planes to check the activities of jihad fighters in Mali. This was announced by Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Barde on Thursday. Air Marshal Barde who paid his maiden visit to Enugu Air Force Unit, Wednesday, said the action was in compliance to President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive that a military contingent be sent to assist Mali to contain the jihad fighters. “As I speak to you now our air planes have arrived in Port-Harcourt; in-fact I’m on my way to Rivers State now and tomorrow morning we are beginning our deployment to Mali and that’s what I am going to witness. “I am going there to bid them a sort of farewell and go-and-fight-well greetings as they depart”, he stated. “We expect them to do what Mr. President directed that we do; he has directed that we should go and assist Mali in repelling the jihad fighters there because you know that if they finish with Mali the next thing will be to come to Nigeria. “So we are going there to fight them and also protect our borders. “You don’t say how many families you are sending to war; but the president has directed that we send a total of 1200 in all; but you know it is our planes that fight and we are beginning deployment this morning”, Air Marshal Barde added.